Burial (burial)
Verified 17 August 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)
Do you have to take care of the burial of a loved one?
Burial takes place in a cemetery within a maximum of 6 days after death, with exceptions.
The chosen funeral company takes care of all or part of the procedures.
The cost varies depending on the place and the services.
If the deceased has not signed a funeral contract, the fees are levied on the estate's property.
We present you with the information you need to know.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
The deceased has indicated his will
If the deceased expressed the wish to be buried, you must respect his will, however it may be indicated (orally or in writing).
The deceased left no indication
The decision rests with the relatives of the deceased in the following cases:
- He didn't plan his funeral in advance
- He left no indication of their organization
Please note
if you disagree with other relatives of the deceased about the organization of his funeral, you must refer the place of death to the court of justice.
Delays vary from place of death:
- France
- Foreigner
- Overseas Community
- New Caledonia
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Deaths in the Metropolis
Burial must take place at least 24 hours and 6 hours working days at most after death.
Where special circumstances so warrant, the prefect of the department of the place of burial may grant derogations from those time limits.
In practice, the funeral company takes care of the process.
Please note
In the event of death in an overseas community or in New Caledonia, with body transfer in mainland France, burial can take place up to 6 days after the body enters France.
Deaths abroad
In case of death with body transfer in mainland France, burial can take place up to 6 days after the body enters France.
Where special circumstances so warrant, the prefect of the department of the place of burial may grant derogations from those time limits.
In practice, the funeral company takes care of the process.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
In a cemetery
You have to ask authorization for burial to the mayor of the municipality of the cemetery chosen.
In practice, the funeral company takes care of the process.
The deceased may be buried in one of the following cemeteries:
- That of the commune where the deceased lived
- The one in the town where he died
- The one where the family vault is located
He may also be buried in the commune where he is entitled to a family grave.
Burial is also possible in another commune, but the mayor can refuse it.
FYI
If the deceased resided abroad, he may be buried in the cemetery of the commune in which he is registered (or meets the conditions for being registered) on the electoral list.
In the chosen cemetery, the deceased is buried in a burial concession.
In the absence of a concession, he is buried free of charge in communal land, in an individual location.
The burial is arranged according to the wishes of the deceased or his relatives and in compliance with the regulations of the communal cemetery.
FYI
The laying of a headstone or other indicative burial mark is not mandatory.
In a private property
You have to ask authorization from the prefect of the department where the property is located.
In practice, the funeral company takes care of the process.
The authorization shall be individual. You can't create a private cemetery.
This authorization is conditional, including:
- Location of the property (distance from other dwellings, etc.)
- Sanitary conditions
- Soil composition
Warning
Burial in private land creates a perpetual burial grant.
YesHowever, you can choose between burial on common ground and the purchase of a concession.
Common land
Offering burial on common ground (or common ground) is a obligation for municipalities.
The common ground consists ofindividual locations, in which the deceased are buried for free for a minimum of 5 years.
The common ground welcomes anyone who chooses this burial or whose family makes this choice.
It also accommodates people without sufficient resources (or poor).
Please note
The mayor cannot set a maximum resource limit for accessing the common ground.
If the family is known, they provide for the funeral and pay the expenses.
If the deceased has no known family, it is the commune that provides for the funeral. Further research will be carried out to obtain reimbursement of costs if necessary.
You can customize the grave on common ground.
However, the mayor may limit the size of the monument.
After a minimum period of 5 years, the municipality may decide to vacate the site on common ground.
The decision shall be communicated by the following means:
- Posted the mayor's order at the mayor's office and cemetery at least 2 months
- Mail to known family members of the deceased
You can decide to buy a concession and then transfer the deceased's coffin to it.
In the absence of a return to the family, the municipality may choose one of the following options:
- Ossuary deposit
- Cremation (unless opposed by the deceased) before deposition at the ossuary or dispersion of ashes in the memorial garden
Burial Concession
One burial concession is a location in a cemetery (cellar, grave).
The price of the concession depends in particular on its location and duration. It is set by the city council.
The contract signed with the municipality (concession agreement) specifies the beneficiaries and the duration of the concession.
Please note
The commune can offer confessional squares in the cemetery. But it's not an obligation.
A temporary vault may be necessary in particular in the following situations:
- Repairs to be made in the concession
- Reduction of body to be carried out in the concession
- Waiting for a transfer abroad
The temporary cellar belongs to the municipality (this equipment is optional).
It can be free or paid for.
You must send your request to the mayor indicating the desired duration (within 6 months).
In practice, the funeral company takes care of the process.
Please note
A hermetic coffin is mandatory if the temporary burial exceeds 6 days.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
In a commune of more than 5,000 inhabitants
You can freely choose a funeral operator.
The list of local licensed funeral companies is available at (or on their website):
- Town Hall
- Health care facilities
- Mortuary or funeral rooms reception room
The company of funeral directors must present the following 3 documents:
- General documentation listing tariffs and services (whether mandatory or optional)
- Free, detailed and costed individual quotation (conforming to an official model)
- Purchase order in case of acceptance of quotation
Companies are required to submit standard specifications in town halls of municipalities with more than 5,000 inhabitants.
They can also submit these estimates to any other municipality.
In a municipality of less than 5,000 inhabitants
You can freely choose a funeral operator.
The list of local licensed funeral companies is available at (or on their website):
- Town Hall
- Health care facilities
- Mortuary or funeral rooms reception room
The company of funeral directors must present the following 3 documents:
- General documentation listing tariffs and services (whether mandatory or optional)
- Free, detailed and costed individual quotation (conforming to an official model)
- Purchase order in case of acceptance of quotation
Companies must submit standard estimates to the municipalities of the department where they have their registered office or a secondary school.
They can also submit these estimates to any other municipality.
After the declaration of death, the following formalities shall be carried out until burial:
- Authorization to close the coffin
- Declaration prior to transport of the body if necessary
- Final closure of the coffin
- Authorization to bury
The company of funeral directors takes charge of these procedures, in whole or in part.
The cost varies depending on the place and the services chosen.
FYI
Ask the city council about local arrangements for the payment of certain funeral expenses.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
The deceased took out a funeral insurance contract
The funeral insurance contract allows you to plan a sum of money to finance your funeral.
Relatives of the deceased should to check whether the deceased has entered into such a contract.
The deceased did not take out a funeral insurance contract
The deceased was an employed person
Funeral expenses may be charged to the bank accounts of the deceased, up to €5,000 (and the amount available on the account).
If the amount charged is not sufficient, heirs must participate.
Depending on the situation of the deceased, some organizations can help you financially.
You can contact the following organizations:
- Social security fund (rights in respect of death capital)
- Mutual society of the deceased (possible financial contribution to the costs)
FYI
ask the city council about local arrangements for the payment of certain funeral expenses.
The deceased was an active civil servant
Funeral expenses may be charged to the bank accounts of the deceased, up to €5,000 (and the amount available on the account).
If the amount charged is not sufficient, heirs must participate.
Depending on the situation of the deceased, some organizations can help you financially.
You can contact the following organizations:
- Administration employing the deceased (rights in respect of death capital)
- Mutual society of the deceased (possible financial contribution to the costs)
FYI
ask the city council about local arrangements for the payment of certain funeral expenses.
The deceased was retired from the general scheme
Funeral expenses may be charged to the bank accounts of the deceased, up to €5,000 (and the amount available on the account).
If the amount charged is not sufficient, heirs must participate.
Depending on the situation of the deceased, some organizations can help you financially.
You can contact his pension fund.
Any person who has paid the funeral expenses of a pensioner under the general scheme may have the amount of those expenses deducted from the amounts due by the Cnav: titleContent, up to €2,286.74.
FYI
ask the city council about local arrangements for the payment of certain funeral expenses.
Other situation
Funeral expenses may be charged to the bank accounts of the deceased, up to €5,000 (and the amount available on the account).
If the amount charged is not sufficient, heirs must participate.
FYI
ask the city council about local arrangements for the payment of certain funeral expenses.
Regulation of the activities of funeral directors
Post-death operations
Authorization for burial
Penalty for failure to comply with the deceased's wishes (Article 433-21-1)
Respect for the human body
FAQ
Service-Public.fr
Service-Public.fr
Ministry of Economy
Ministry of Economy
Ministry of Economy
